Category Archives: Guild Council

I’m getting tired of this, but not in a personal way

by maxattacks

Last night I thought I’d be incredibly sad and watch as much as I could of the final Guild Council of the academic year being streamed from GuildTV. I missed most of the first half of the meeting (most of the motions and preamble) due to work. What I did catch was primarily the Guild Officers leaving speeches and I’ll say this now. After listening to the speeches I respect all the Guild Officers so much more (but no change on actual agree and disagreement with them). Probably the most thought provoking and even moving speech was the outgoing Guild President’s, Mark Harrop. I do believe he will have a fair fewer ‘haters’ after last night. Though there was one area of the speech that I did find a problem with, the not so ever present “silent majority”.

I’d like to nip this in the bud now. To say this is a personal attack on Mark (as some short-sighted individuals claimed my tweet from last night regarding this claimed to be) would be hugely misleading and would be over-flattering of our outgoing Guild President. There’s a very small select group of individuals I feel comfortable attacking personally and Mark certainly doesn’t feature as one. As someone who genuinely cares in determining what is true I find it entirely comfortable criticising absolutely any idea. I find it entirely reasonable to point out to individuals when they believe the wrong ideas (given the right circumstances) they are then able to recognise their mistakes, because we are all stupid on issues at some point in our lives. I’m incredibly stupid when it comes to understanding cricket, art, pop culture references and popular music. As I’ve already said, I have a great deal more respect for the outgoing President and all the other outgoing Sabbs after last night. Mentioning Mark in my tweet and this post is not a personal attack as some individuals may claim, it is an attempt to make him and many others realise the flaws in the idea of the “silent majority”.

Moving on, the “silent majority” idea invokes my own personal love/hate fallacy of argumentum ad populum. In a nutshell, the level of popular support has absolutely no bearing on what is right or wrong, true or false. If we’d always bend to the will of the “silent majority” homosexuality would not have been decriminalised in the UK in the 1960s and desegregation in Southern US Schools in the 1950s would have also never have happened. Or at least without it, introduced both far too sooner.

You may ask how this is relevant to the wider Labour party, NOLS and BULS. Sadly far too much. Too often do I hear 60% believe x, 80% support y. So what?! This has no absolutely no bearing on the truth! This personal distaste for argumentum ad populum has been particularly tested over the Diamond Jubilee and to be honest, I’m becoming incredibly tired of hearing it. More often than not, the “silent majority” fallacy is too often produced to legitimise truly false or morally wrong policies and ideas. As someone who cares about the truth and its ultimate pursuit, I hope we would all speak out against such basic yet widespread fallacies.

Max

No confidence

by maxattacks

This is just a quick post before bed (IMF, economists and the wider economy tomorrow, don’t worry). But unless I have been completely mislead, the Universities Minister, David Willetts has suffered a motion of ‘No confidence’ against him in Guild Council today.

Oh no! Not the University of Birmingham Guild of Students (ever so slightly sarcastically) you might say. But, do not underestimate the power of collective action. Moves against Willetts are happening all over the county with even his former University tutor following suit. So here we have it, a year into the Tory-lead Coalition and already two Ministers of suffered votes of ‘No confidence’ from influential organisations (correct me if I’m wrong on that particular point) with Willetts soon to follow.

It seems Vince Cable was right, the Coalition is clearly being too Moaist.

Max

Guild Council 16/3/11 Support HET Motion

by bulsonline

Why this BULS member will be supporting the Holocaust Educational Trust motion to Guild Council – A response to Max Ramsey’s blog.

I empathise with the difficult task faced by anti semitism activists on campus. They are fighting a kind of discrimination that is at first hard to recognise unless you experience it and harder still to teach others to recognise.

 It’s manifestations are numerous, coloured by thousands of years of oppression. Whether this is the overtly offensive comparison of Israel to the Nazi’s designed to invoke the pain of memories only as old as some people’s grandmothers. Or the much older still references to stingy money lenders, a product of Christians not being allowed to lend to each other with interest, or even simply the old standards of being hairy and big nosed. Recognition of antisemitism and understanding of antisemitism often rests on good historical education. Recognition of the racism involved rests on recognising a semitic race apart from others when their numbers are so few in the UK.

I empathise with the task of these activists but it’s not to say that I will ever truly know their experience of antisemitism. I am a firm believer that we cannot know other’s true experience of their own oppression.

You may or may not know what it feels like to be a 23 year old lesbian in Britain today, you can learn a lot about it, but you either experience it or you don’t.

From the moment I leave my house in the morning to the moment I return my experience of life is coloured in many thousands of ways by this identity. Some of these the non-lesbian reader will be able to recognise, more of these people who suffer similar discrimination might recognise (such as black or disabled people), more I will recognise, but still there will be decisions about my character made by others, jobs I won’t apply for or bars I wait just that little bit longer to be served in, things that I won’t even notice. All things that impact on me simply because I’m a lesbian.

Discrimination is a hard thing to pin down for yourself let alone trying to educate others to recognise it.

As an activist on campus then you have some difficult choices to make. There are types of discrimination that better education has led to better recognition of, however homophobia and anti semitism are two categories of discrimination that we are far behind on. Most people today could point to a limp wristed gesture at a gay man as homophobia, however they may struggle to pinpoint the problem with straight women saying they don’t mind lesbians as long as they don’t fancy them.

Similarly most people can understand the antisemitism in stereotypes about big noses, but many fail to see the latent antisemitism in referring to Jewish activists as secretive, sneaky Zionist lobbyists.

The delicate choice is what particular piece of discrimination do I choose to target first.

How much is too much to soon? What will blow up in my face? If I raise this particular issue will the retaliative discrimination be too much for me personally? Will my actions backfire on my already too reticent community? Will I cope? Is it worth it anyway?

But you have to be brave.

Max’s question about why we should pay for one type of education over another is misplaced. When chair of the LGBTQ I had many an argument with various guild officers about getting funding for various kinds of training for LGBTQ activists. On one occasion I spent 3 hours arguing for a one day course that literally cost £10. The prevailing argument against my efforts was what would they do if BEMA, women’s, disabled, international, home etc…students came along and asked for the same. But they weren’t asking and no one was giving. This is because the guild has no proactive plan for furthering equality and diversity on campus. We can therefore in the very least actually react when discrimination presents itself and we have an opportunity to act.

 I had a conversation with a guild officer recently about how I never go to Fab’n'Fresh (the guild’s club night) apart from for results nights. I calmly explained to a shocked officer how every time I go I am aggressively verbally abused by people only too keen to get up in my personal space and point out to me I am a lesbian. This happens every time I go without fail. This is something I have told guild officers many times over the years and every time they tell me it’s a disgrace. And every time they do nothing.

This week I am at NUS Women’s Conference as our LGBT rep paid for by money raised by the Women’s Association’s doughnut sale. My varying experiences of hate because of gender and because of my sexuality apparently aren’t even worth £50 of the Guild’s money.

The motion in question asks for a lot of funding, but frankly it’s needed. Last year alone 639 incidents of antisemitism were recorded by the Community Security Trust, which when you consider the British Jewish community is estimated to be a population of no more than 350 000 and just how much hate crime is never reported, is a considerable amount. Come to think of it, I have never reported a hate crime against myself to any official recording body. The most important thing to note here though is that antisemitism is on the rise, both 2009 and 2010 were record highs since the records of the CST began in 1984.

This is not a kind of discrimination that is quietly stagnating whilst we do nothing about it, it is getting bigger and it is coming to campus.

The Holocaust Education Trust provides numerous and different approaches in it’s educational programmes. It possesses masses of resources on contemporary genocide not just the Holocaust. It plays an integral role in areas of the UK affected by racial tension seeking to educate against all kinds of racial hatred not just antisemitism.

I think also the point about paying particular attention to the Holocaust on occasion is not due to it’s proximity to the UK as Max suggested, but because there is simply no comparable example of genocide on that scale, because it was mechanised and systematic and because it was the defining and damning event of the last century.

We spend more time scrutinising every possible opportunity for progress in finding equality on campus till we end up doing nothing at all.

We stop numerous initiatives by individuals and groups in favour of a better, more multilateral, more equitable option that nobody ever offers instead. Equality will not be achieved by all, in equal measures, at the same time. This is a nice idea in theory but it is fantasy none the less.

The proposers of this motion are giving us a chance to put our money where our mouth is and be proactive, if we choose to wait for the ‘better’ proposal or for when we all think it’s ‘worth’ the expenditure, we will be waiting for something degrading, disgusting and downright dangerous to happen on campus before we do anything. That is shameful.

If you want to be part of a Guild that takes real action on equality support this motion at Guild Council.

By Emma O’Dwyer – BULS Member

Sam’s Voting Record

by smurphy2010

How I voted as the Campaigning and Political mini-forum representative on the Guild Council on the 18/11/2010

In the interest of transparency I have decided to publish how I voted in the motions at Guild Council on Thursday. All items listed below were the only ones which were starred, which means they got debated in council, the un- starred ones got passed automatically.

Motion: Cuts and Fees vs. Motion: Birmingham Students say NO to cuts and fees (later carried)

I voted for the 2nd motion, (Birmingham Students say NO to cuts and fees)

These two items were taken together, in the interest of sparking debate within Guild Council. This is the NUS line and keeps representatives of the Guild in University meetings and committees, which if we directly challenged the university on things like the Brown review, we would not have a voice in. Better to be inside the meeting arguing students case than being a fringe party on the other side of the door; shouting not being heard.

Motion: Changing the name of the HSBC room to the Harvey Milk room (carried)

I voted in favour

This motion got amended slightly to include the room being used for student purposes in the future and to withdraw the clause to denoting some kind of capitalist agenda with calling it the HSBC room in the first place. It was called the HSBC room because no one had put forward an alternative name. It seemed sensible and it allows a great man to be honoured in our Guild.

Motion: Ethical Investment (not carried)

I voted against this motion

This motion proposed to include tobacco, alcohol, gambling, arms manufactures, and pornography into the guilds ethical investment policy, excluding the Guild investing its surplus in these industries. I thought students would find it hypocritical of the Guild to sell a lot of these items within the union and then have an investment policy against that. With arms manufactures as well, some students with engineering degrees etc will be looking to work in these sorts of legitimate industries and the guild would then be hypocritical to let them on campus in the jobs fair for example.

Motion: Guild Council frequency

I voted against this motion.

This motion called for more Guild Council meetings in the term similar to what the Guild Council did before the referendum. I voted against this motion because it would be contradicting the referendum where nearly 2000 students voted in favour of changing the structure of Guild Council to have less formal meetings replaced by open forums where any student can come along and express their issues and concerns. This is to give the average student more of a voice in the Guild, in theory. I think students would like to let this policy bed in, no matter what there view on the referendum; seeing as there have only been one round of open forums as of yet, it would be premature in before changing anything.

Motion: Amendments to the suppliers list (carried)

I voted against this motion.

This motion called for the RA’s suppliers list to become a recommended list rather than a mandatory list of companies that they can work with. This is to drive down costs and make sure RA’s are not being manipulated by companies. I voted against this motion although it went through because it was evident there had been problems with the suppliers list previously but the officer team seemed to have reformed the list prior to the motion going to Guild Council. Reforms such as if a company can give a cheaper cost; they can be placed on the list instead of another etc. This motion might be subject to legal issues in the future due to the University demanding things like a mandatory suppliers list in financial audits.

Motion: Disability policy (carried)

I voted in favour.

This bill was amended and re-named the mobility and access policy. The motion calls for the Guild to establish a mobility and access policy working group, to monitor access to the Guild and its events and to ensure all disabled facilities are working.

If anyone has any issues with the way that I voted please get in touch at the committee e-mail address or my number 0752513519.

Full detailed minutes of the meeting will be published on the guild website soon.

Remember that know your world is next week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sam Murphy

Minutes/Info from Mini Forum Meeting

by smurphy2010

Autumn 2010 Campaigning and Political miniforum minutes 19.10.10

Attendees:

Matt Lamb – VPSAD

Jo Ormond – Student Activities coordinator

Benjamin Mee – Atheists, Agnostics and Humanists

Labour Students – Sam Murphy

United Nations – Anna-Kaisa Polojarvi

Socialist society – Vicky Taylor

Debating society – Rachael Twumasi

Take Back Parliament – Charlotte Galpin

  1. 1. VPSAD introduction to his role and miniforums

 

Matt explained that mini forums are a chance for groups of similar interests to discuss issues, ask questions and be given information from the Guild.

 

  1. 2. Open Forums

 

Open forums have replaced Guild council and are a less formal way for groups to bring issues/motions/feedback to the VPSAD. Two representatives from each miniforum will be elected to attend Guild Council on behalf of the miniforum

 

Student Groups:  Thursday 21st October, at 6.30pm; venue to be confirmed

19th Guild – 5.30pm,– for any issues relating to the Guild as an organisation and/or building

20th Education and University– 5.30pm,– for academic issues

21st Sports– 4.30pm,– for anyone involved in sport, at any level from occasional gym user to club captain.

22nd Welfare– 4.00pm,– any welfare issues.

 

  1. 3. Challenge VPSAD / Feedback from groups: activities so far/coming up; successes and challenges/issues

Socialist – Focus on Fees and would like as many societies as possible to get involved.  Providing transport to the Education Action Network national conference and rally if anyone wants to join us 31st October. (Matt also suggested getting in touch with Rob Hunter VPEA about fees campaigns).

 

UN – Have a yearly theme related to the Millennium Development goals.  Have events for climate event in Mexico and Stop Violence Against Women day.

 

Take Back Parliament – We’re a new group and we campaign to change the voting system.  At the moment we’re focusing on getting membership and have a couple of events lined up.

 

(Matt mentioned that the box office space outside Spar is now bookable by student groups and is an ideal place to promote your society / have a bake sale etc.  Book through reception.)

 

Labour – Have an event planned with Lib Dems, a trip to Brussels for European Parliament.  Want to start a living wage campaign (Take Back Parliament would like to work with Labour on voting reform.)

 

Atheists, Agnostics and Humanists – Have a screening of The Life of Brian on Thursday, also have events with Aston Humanists and Birmingham Humanists.  Have had some problems with paperwork with uni room bookings – Matt asked for details to be emailed to him so he could follow it up.

 

Debating – Had a public debate on the day of the Browne review.  Also have a debate on Thursday ‘This House would abolish the Monarchy’.  Also have debates coming up on Afghanistan and God.  Please email us with any suggestions for debates that you would like.

  1. 4. Know Your World promotion; need replies by Fri 22nd.

 

  1. 5. Get Involved (brief mention, not in detail, initial sign-up for interest

 

  1. 6. Guild Council elections

Standing candidates:

Anna-Kaisa Polojarvi

Sam Murphy

Rachel Twumais

RON

 

Brief summary of speeches:

 

Anna

  • Have experience of attending Guild Council and good perspective of what’s going on.
  • Feel that the new system will improve the way Guild Council runs
  • Believes it is very important to have representation at GC
  • Not running just to fill my CV – we need to raise issues concerning our groups
  • Will ensure good communication between groups
  • Also recognise there will be differences of opinion between C&P groups

 

Sam

  • Believe GC should expand to deal with campus wide issues
  • I am transparent, open, amiable, not scared to represent the needs of the miniforum
  • Experience of councils: local council and campaigning and representation

 

Rachael

  • Good at putting forward what people want done
  • Have responded to feedback from members within own society
  • Have experience of attending GC and have drafted a motion
  • Able to take a neutral stance

 

Sam Murphy and Rachael Twumasi elected

 

 

  1. 7. Any other business/comments

Anna – a what’s on calendar on the website with everything that’s going on across campus would be really good

Matt – I am on the working group to rebuild website and this is definitely something we want.  We are also trying to get some temporary measures in place.

 

The End of the Affair

by suzannahrobinson

After a very long final session of Guild Council, in the immortal words of Fabian, I’ll try to keep this brief…

Each of the officers made a leaving speech looking back on the year and offering advice to the new team. These are some of the highlights.

VPSAD Emma “pacman” Packham has effectively showcased student groups to the Uni administration (the Vice Chancellor’s dad nows wants to join BUDS  dance soc) and worked hard to make herself known and approachable. She said that despite the Guild’s under resourcing, few staff and erstwhile joke status among the students it achieves incredible things. She made the point that professional relationships are crucial; and gratitude and banter are useful to grease the cogs.

VPEA Brigid “remarkable” Jones: widely regarded as a model representative of students due to her commitment and dedication she was yesterday awarded honorary life membership of the Guild. Fabian asserted that this “girl, sorry, woman” has been patronised by the bigwigs up at the Uni during her massive campaign against the closure of the sociology department.

VPHC Ed “the smallest man that I look up to” Sparkes has worked hard to calm the housing terrors among first years by making everyone feel included in halls and pushing back the housing rush til after Christmas. He thinks that fun is the most important element in life, and that we should all change something if we’re not having enough of it, and to that end he’s run for nearly every position possible within the Guild.

VPW Johnny “idiotic but popular” Davis is the first ever re-elected officer, he’s determined, innovative to the point of requesting a condom cannon and a penis-shaped bucking bronco for AIDS awareness, and wants to encourage anyone who doesn’t think they’re “political” enough to get involved anyway, because all you really need is the desire to make things better. He’s proud of U of B’s record of supporting student parents, the “hidden gems” of our community, and is excited about carrying on next year, reminding us all to protect our welfare with a Johnny.

VPS Katie “fordy fail” Ford had a hard time splitting commitments and was initially a guild outsider, but has managed to conquer the laddish element of the Sports teams with tact and skill and embed the Guild in the minds of our sportspeople. The Lion sports pull-out in RedBrick, a successful healthy living campaign, a brilliant Sports Ball, increased involvement in Sports Forums and inclusion of Sports RAs are just some of her many achievements.

VPDR Tom “comrade” Guise has come a long way but never forgotten his BULS roots, wearing a rose on his lanyard at all times. He’s delivered Joe’s Bar, not on time but on budget, and been a supportive friend to the rest of the team. He also had a serious message of support for everyone involved in student politics and a warning for the naysayers who ignore the historic importance of our institutions.

President Fabian “that geeky Austrian guy” Neuner has managed to develop from an inexperienced cynical outsider into a positive, passionate, diplomatic, reliable and genuine leader. Following a jibe from Lynne Jones he’s been spending a lot of time convincing outsiders that students do care about politics, has been active in the Vote4Students campaign and wishes to further reform the Guild Council procedure to improve transparency. Among his many other achievements he recently won a game of Lash of the Titans, wearing Johnny Davis’ underwear on his head in victory.

The motion to express GC support for wheelchair ramps in the law library was passed unanimously, which is apparently a first!

Further…

Everyone decried the lack of recognition given to the non-sabb team and then carried on ignoring them…shout outs and praise were given to the guild staff, housemates and girlfriends, Carnival Rag, RedBrick, the notorious Ed Bauer, Tom Marley and Wes Streeting as well as all of the new officers…there used to be an official bar crawl called “Chamberlain Chunderfest”… that once you’ve been elected you have to do your best both for those who elected you but also for your rivals…the library WILL be open longer next year…Ed Sparkes is the best person to bring you tea when you’ve fallen asleep on your desk…

There is nothing wrong with Guild Council that cannot be cured by what is right with Guild Council

by suzannahrobinson

My comrades….let’s get down to business

The whole incumbent officer team have volunteered to have wet sponges thrown at them for Kids Adventure on Friday 7th May.

After prompting the President acknowledged Debating Society’s achievement of a well balanced and well attended though controversial “Free Palestine” debate. He also announced his intention of establishing better provision for colour printing.

The VP Housing and Community was commended and reported that discussions about the proposals to turn Aitken Wing into Post Grad halls are taking place tomorrow. He also warned GC that a spate of non-violent night time muggings against lone girls is ongoing in Selly Oak, but that police have been liaised with and the culprit will probably soon be caught.

The Disabled Students Officer was also commended and the VP Student Activities and Development was commended twice! Suggestions were made both to censure and commend the VP Democracy and Resources but both were rejected. However he extended his thanks to all who got involved in the Officer Elections and reiterated the improved turnout and how much he himself enjoyed it.

The VP Welfare was commended and answered questions about the reported Hunter Court suicide by stating that a student died over the weekend but the investigation is ongoing. Everyone affected has been offered help.

Motions were passed to: 1. Implement a new streamlined and accessible student group constitution 2. Increase disabled students’ involvement in Guild nights by improving wheelchair access and access for the partially sighted and increasing awareness of disabled issues within the Guild 3. Make the housing process easier for students by improving information to prevent the November “rush”, improve and enlarge the SHAC and promote the positive impact of students on the local community 4. Open Joes for Election watching in May following the success of a similar event in 2008 where the bar was kept open for the US Presidential elections and food and drink were served.

The next Guild Council will happen on Tuesday 4th May. Do go along, unless you can’t spare the time from the Labour Party that close to the election!

Suzy

What’s the story in Guild-a-Council, wouldn’t you like to know?

by suzannahrobinson

The fifth Guild Council of the academic year was the worst attended so far, probably because of the snow and it being reading week.

Communications were made to the effect that: a Food Action Group has been set up for interested students, that security for certain speakers and certain rooms in the university can cost from £100 and the ways to avoid these costs, that a “Homophobia is Gay” bar crawl has been organised by the LGBTQ association for the 26th February, that next week is Student Volunteering Week and that the Guild Awards will take place on Sunday 21st March.

All motions were passed without discussion, including a motion to advertise the hearing loop in the Guild Council Chambers so that deaf students feel confident attending, to increase the publicity of jobs suitable for disabled students and ensure that disabled students are supported more generally, to disallow balloon launches on guild property in lieu of the environmental concerns, to lobby Spar and educate students on the issue of animal testing and to increase the number of companies from which the Guild will buy condoms in order to cut costs.

A review of the democratic structures has returned the recommendation that Guild Council meet only once a term and with fewer delegates, that the Student Groups Megaforums will deal with more issues, and that more referendums will take place to involve more students.

As West Midlands representative to the Student Loans Company Johnny Davis (Welfare Officer) consulted with the Student Loans Company and reported back about the problems earlier this academic year. The Hopkins Review has made recommendations for improvements to the service this year, including greater publicity for deadlines and working alongside UCAS. Meanwhile 36,000 disabled students are still without their full loan.

The President, EEO, LGBTQ Officer, Welfare Officer, VPSAD and Ethnic Minorities Officer were all commended.

The next one is on 25th March, come along if you think you’re hard enough

Suzy

What a bunch of tossers….

by suzannahrobinson

My fellow Labour Students….

Guild Council tonight censured the President and VP Democracy and Resources for insufficient blogging, while the VP Welfare Johnny Davis refused to accept a commendation unless Ed Sparkes the VP Housing and Community was also commended,consequently both were rewarded.

The title of my post refers to the censuring of the Ethical and Environmental Officer Ed Bauer, proposed by a representative of the Law school in response to a blog written by the EEO which brought Guild Council into disrepute. After an interesting debate Ed Bauer was censured but did not receive a “no confidence” vote. Among others he was defended by Dora Meredith, who praised his enthusiam, engagement and hard work.

The motions I mentioned in my last post were passed with the exception of the National Covention Against Fees and Cuts motion, which was removed from the agenda.

Joseph Chamberlain was the first chancellor of the Univeristy of Birmingham, and gave his name not only to “Old Joe”, the clock tower, but also to our beloved Guild bar. Following a student vote Joe’s Bar will maintain its name.

The NUS’s VP for higher education Aaron Porter urged the Council to vote in the general election, but only for PPCs who pledge to maintain the cap on tuition fees. In 2005 only 35% of 18-25 year olds voted, compared to 63% in the wider population. With 7 million students in the UK we can and should have a much louder voice in the upcoming election.

Divers other issues were discussed, such as poor Virgin Media provision in Selly Oak, muddy car parks, access to exam and essay results on WebCT off site and Residential Association committees being distanced from excessive money handling and nightclub culture.

Snacks were provided as ever, the independent chairs were helpful and friendly, and there was plenty of passion, discussion and democracy.

Suzy (Guild Councillor)

Oh, what’s occurring at Guild Council?

by suzannahrobinson

Here are the motions which are coming up at Guild Council on Thursday:

a) For the February National Convention against tuition fees and cuts to higher education to be advertised and transport organised within the Guild and on my.bham, and for Brigid Jones and other members of the council to attend and report back.

b) To sign the pledge against sourcing minerals from the Congo and lobby the University and electronics firms to do the same. For more on the ratinale behind this see
http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/conflictminerals_pledge
 This motion may prove controversial with students who are hoping for a career in electronics, or those who consider global conflict issues to be outside our remit.

c) For Fairtrade Fortnight 22nd February – 7th March to be observed this year and every year by the Guild, through quizzes, events and  promotion of fairtrade drinks in Joes.

d) For fairtrade products to be promoted to a greater extent in general.

e) For mitigations to be extended to those who have trouble attending their classes at Birmingham University due to visa delays.

f) For the student body to have a say on the democratic structures within the Guild through a referendum.

I have the option to star any of them (ask to have them discussed), and essentially vote yes or no. I can also make speeches in favour or in opposition oif any, and submit my own motions. I’m there on behalf of you guys, so let me know what you want me to do!

Suzy (BULS Guild Councillor)

Guild Council Report

by maxattacks

This report is to let you all know what the Guild’s Officer Team have been up to and what motions are being discussed.

Guild Council on Thursday was interesting, informative, well attended and better organised than last month, as evidenced in the relatively early finishing time of 8.30pm.

Motions were passed to ban Delta Force Paintballing company from advertising on campus (the paintballing society have informed us that cheaper, safer and better qualtity paintballing is always available through them), and to request the University to install more water fountains and extend Honey Pot funding to postgraduates.

Questions were asked about the future of Sociology and Brigid Jones the Education and Access Officer informed the Council that the University are currently considering six possible options, one of which would mean closing the department, but five others in which it would be merged or maintained.

Johnny Davis the Welfare Officer attempted to dispel some of the rumours surrounding the tragic death of a second-year law student in Alton Road. The thoughts of the Officer team, and all of us, are with his family and friends at this sad time.

A motion was passed (and an amendment rejected) to strengthen the power of Guild Council censure. The Home Students’ Officer has resigned following two censures, but attention was drawn to the fact that the Council do not currently have the power to actually fire Officers. Guild President Fabienn Neuner will be taking further action.

Questions were also asked about the re-naming of Joe’s Bar and the necessity of every society and school having compulsory representation. Both points are currently under review.

One frustrating admin error was the omission of Dora Meredith’s motion for pay-as-you-go gym membership, to replace the current termly/yearly fee. But we have been assured that the Guild are already in talks with Munrow Sports Centre.

Overall it was progressive and engaging, and I felt as if I was part of a wider movement intent on making a difference.

If you ever want to come along I’d recommend it. Snacks are provided.

By Suzy

Guild Council Update

by joshualt

Getting back into the spirit of student politics came as a refreshing shock last night in the form of Guild Council. Having attended numerous meeting for what now seems like a tiny tiny organisation called Exeter College Students Union I had a fairly good idea of what to expect. Lots of talk about dreary issues that we had no power to implement or desire to do so from the students. However once in the Guild Council Chambers, with a little electronic voting card in my palm, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d got involved with something that could actually make some exciting changes. Any sense of cynicism that had built up over the course of last year left me and I waited, flicking through the agenda, for the rest of the councillors to take their seats. However personal impressions aside, what was it that was actually discussed and decided upon at last night’s council?

The guild has decided to sign up for the 10/10 campaign. This is a pledge to cut its emissions by ten per cent by 2010. The major political parties have signed up for this already, as have a thousands of individuals, businesses and organisations such as O2, Royal Mail, Comic relief and of course NUS! This is a great way to educate people about climate change and suggest simple ways they can cut their emissions. You can sign up at http://www.1010uk.org/ and take the challenge.

The guild also agreed to implement new policy which will promote blood donation on campus but oppose the archaic rules that the NHS has in place which do not allow gay or bi men to donate if they have had sex with a man in the last 12 months or for woman who have had sex with a man, who has had sex with a man in the last 12 months.

Among other things there is to be greater transparency between students and the Ethical and Environmental forum, the minutes of which are to be made available and consultations between students and the officer compulsory. This is great news as the more consultation we have with students the better our decisions will become.

Guild council was not all good news. We decided to allow shell oil to advertise in the guild. This is a serious ethical issue and I’m certain that if most students knew the implications of supporting such a company they would be appalled. Shell have pursued an anti-union policy and have drastically effected the environment in Peru where they recently installed several new oil platforms. Not to mention attempting to dump obsolete oil storage platforms in the North Sea Trench.

Guild council meeting 29/10/09

by maxattacks

Hiya, just to let everyone know here are some recent titbits from Guild Council:

- Shell oil are now allowed to advertise in the Guild following a Guild policy change

- A banner campaigning for decisive action on climate change at Copenhagen is being made to hang in Mermaid Square

- The Guild Council chambers are to be renamed the “Mark Terry Council Chambers” to recognise a former Birmingham student who campaigned against apartheid

- As part of the building work Joe’s bar is to be re-located, as are the ARC, Student Development and the Job Zone – The Guild has pledged to cut CO2 emissions by 10% by 2010

- A book exchange is up and running and needs more publicity!

- There is an ongoing campaign to allow LGBTQ students to donate blood when the donation van comes back.

Comments/queries?

By Suzannah Robinson, BULS Guild of Students Council Representative